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The Department of Energy is still far from coming up with reprocessing solutions for used nuclear fuel, the Government Accountability Office said in a report. While the department had listed several possible techniques, it failed to identify the state of technical progress for the technologies, GAO said. The department has also failed to discuss with nuclear plant operators the commercial potential of the technologies, the report stated.

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The Department of Energy needs to conduct a public outreach program regarding the handling of used nuclear fuel, according to the Government Accountability Office. "Without a better understanding of spent nuclear fuel management issues, the public may be unlikely to support any policy decisions about managing spent nuclear fuel," the GAO wrote. The agency added that experts and stakeholders "suggested the need for a coordinated public outreach strategy regarding spent nuclear fuel management issues, including perceived risks and benefits."

Mississippi should develop a mix of energy sources and consider reprocessing used nuclear fuel, as it could generate high-paying jobs, former Gov. Haley Barbour said. "This is going to be an enormous economic godsend for somebody," Barbour said.

Interim storage could help address the country's woes regarding used nuclear fuel, a Department of Energy report determined. "In practical terms, this means encouraging communities to volunteer to be considered to host a nuclear waste management facility while also allowing for the waste management organization to approach communities that it believes can meet the siting requirements," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

South Korea isn't considering seeking Japan's assistance in the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, a foreign ministry official said. This comes in response to a Japanese media report that Japan has proposed to recycle South Korea's used fuel rods.

South Korean regulators will seek public input about the management of used nuclear fuel, as storage at the country's reactors will reach capacity by 2021. The inquiry will be complete by the end of 2014, according to South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy. Under a bilateral deal with the U.S., used-fuel reprocessing is barred in South Korea.